A 38-save performance from Ty Young and six goals from his teammates was just what the doctor ordered for the Prince George Cougars, who posted a 6-1 victory over the Victoria Royals, Friday at in Victoria.
With the win, the Cougars improved their point streak to 15 games to set a Prince George franchise record, eclipsing the 14-game streak set in 1997-98.
Cougar rookie Terik Parascak led the way with two goals, his 38th and 39th of the season, and defenceman Hudson Thornton had a four-point game with two goals and two assists.
Zac Funk picked up two assists to tie the team’s all-time record for points in season (112), a record he now shares with Quinn Hancock, who set the mark in 1997-98.
The Cougars got the scoring started at 8:42 when Parascak roofed a wrist shot from the right circle past Braden Holt to make it 1-0. The Royals equalized the game at 13:14 when Tyson Laventure slid one by Young on the power play. The Cougars outshot Victoria 20-15.
In the second, the Royals supplied great chances in the early going but Young was terrific, stymying multiple Royals to keep the game tied. The Cats then fired two goals in quick succession and it started with the captain, Thornton.
Thornton fired a shot from the left point off a Royal skate and past Holt to make it 2-1 at 5:37. Then Oren Shtrom scored shortly after at 6:18 off a nice pass from Chase Pauls and it propelled Prince George ahead 3-1. In the final seconds of the second, the Cats went to a power-play and Parascak converted for his second of the night for a 4-1 lead.
In the third, Thornton netted his second of the night after putting a puck off a Royal skate and by Holt to make it 5-1 at 3:46. Young continued to shut the door for the Cougars making notable stops to keep PG up by four. Jett Lajoie added another goal for PG, banging in a rebound at 17:33 to secure a 6-1 win for Prince George.
With the win, the Cougars improved to 45-15-1-3, equalling the team record for most wins in a season with 45, set in 2016-17 by the team that won the Cougars first B.C. Division championship squad.
The Cougars outshot Victoria 40-39.
The team meet again Saturday in a rematch (6:05 p.m.). On Sunday the Cougars play the Vancouver Giants in Langley (4 p.m.).
